Elden Ring: Nightreign Omits Beloved Feature

Elden Ring Nightreign: No In-Game Messaging System

FromSoftware has confirmed that Elden Ring Nightreign will not feature an in-game messaging system, a staple of the Soulsborne series. This decision, according to game director Junya Ishizaki (in a January 3rd interview with IGN Japan), is a practical one. The fast-paced, multiplayer-focused design of Nightreign, with anticipated play sessions around 40 minutes long, leaves insufficient time for players to read and write messages.

While this core asynchronous feature is absent, Nightreign will retain and enhance other elements. The bloodstain mechanic, for example, will return, offering players even more information about their fellow players' demise and the opportunity to loot their spectral remains.

FromSoftware's vision for Nightreign is a "compressed RPG," prioritizing intense, consistent multiplayer engagement and minimizing downtime. This is reflected in the game's three-day structure and the removal of the messaging system, which would have disrupted the intended pacing. The game aims for high variety within a shorter, more focused experience.

The game's 2025 release window was confirmed in the TGA 2024 trailer, though a more precise date is yet to be announced by FromSoftware and Bandai Namco.